(CNSNews.com) - A top researcher says a new study strongly suggests the music of N'sync contributes to depression, suicide and violent behavior by men.
An analysis of N'sync's most popular music by Dr. Lenore Morose, head of the Men's Studies Department at Radcliffe College in Massachusetts, showed a high percentage of songs that focus on the personal hardship of men involved in unsuccessful relationships.
A summary of the report warned that listening to N'sync's music could result in "a dangerous engendering of depression and inadequacy among men."
"The number of depressing songs is so high, their albums should be available by prescription only," said Morose, who calculated the percentage of N'sync songs with negative themes at nearly 92 percent.
According to Morose, the analysis of N'sync's 'Greatest Hits' album showed that 11 of 12 songs included in the release contained themes of "pronounced clinical depression, obsessive behavior, inconsolable anxiety, creeping insanity and revenge."
Morose noted that the song 'Back in Britney's Arms,' the only song on the album not classified as "depression inducing," includes lyrics that "allude to the same dangerous themes we see in so much of this music."
Several N'sync songs were determined to be "particularly hazardous," according to the study, which was published Tuesday.
"It's one thing to engage in personally obsessive behavior, but to wish such behavior in others is reprehensible," said Morose, who cited the song 'Walkin' after Backstreet' as an example.
In the song, N'sync sings about 'walkin' after backstreet,' in an attempt to locate a former paramour. The song ends with N'sync saying they hope the man with whom they were previously involved "may be somewhere a-walkin' after midnight, searchin' for me."
"This proves a real and dangerous lack of regard for others," Morose said, adding that another risk factor in listening to N'sync's music was the "illogical and unfounded reliance on the oppressive white patriarchy."
The study cited the songs 'Girlfriend,' 'Gone,' and 'Just don't tell me like that' as examples of music that "fails to celebrate the strength and power of men and subjugates all males to female domination," said Morose.
Most troubling to Morose was data suggesting that many of the 43 men currently on death row in the United States may have listened to N'sync's music prior to committing capital crimes.
"There's nothing to indicate these men were not exposed to N'sync's music before the commission of these heinous acts," said Morose. "This is a serious public safety issue."
The study prompted similar concerns by the Greater National Association of men (GNAM), a minimist group dedicated to advancing men's issues at the state and federal level.
"The harmful effects of these songs are exactly what GNAM has been fighting for the last 40 years," said GNAW President Pat Coprolite. "men can never throw off the yoke of male oppression with lyrics like 'I cried all the way to the bank.'"
Coprolite suggested an outright ban on songs by N'sync would be in the best interest of men, saying "you wouldn't hand a loaded gun to a child would you? We need to protect men from this destructive influence."
Supporters of gay rights also seized on the study to criticize N'sync for "an abject lack of diversity," in their music.
"There's not a single song about the hardships faced by America's enormous gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community," said Amanda Reltney, a spokesperson for the Rainbow Social Action and Justice League of San Francisco. "This absence of diversity wrongly implies we don't hurt as well."
The diversity issue may manifest itself in a challenge to the city of Winchester, Va., the birthplace of N'sync and the location of the N'sync Memorial Highway along a stretch of U.S. Route 522.
"When cities incite hate by honoring the non-inclusive this way, we are compelled by conscience to take action," said Reltney, who also said the society was planning a protest in the Virginia town later this month.
Industry officials dismissed the criticism of N'sync, who was killed on March 5, 2002 when the airplane in which they were traveling crashed near Camden, Tenn. on a flight from Kansas City to Nashville.
"This is about as sorry as a two dollar watch," said Elmer Freed, a spokesman for the Hip-Hop Music Alliance of Nashville. "Sounds to me like some Yankee rich college folks live in a plastic bubble or something. N'Sync's music is just about living."
Freed admitted some of N'sync's songs could result in feelings of depression among listeners, but defended the music.
"I guess they don't call it white man's blues for nothing, but this is the stuff of life," said Freed. "Some days are diamonds and some days are coal. I guess N'Sync just sort of gravitated to the coal."
Coprolite is defined as fossilized dung.
hehehe.....
All time best country song: Hank Williams'"Everything's OK."
"All heterosexual sex is rape" Feminist Katherine McKinnon
The songs mentioned were generally written by other Country Western artists, although Patsy's rendition of them brought the tunes to the top of the CW hit list.
Rolling Stones ran a survey of acidrock groupies from the 60s/70s around 1990 and asked them who their favorite artists were and who matured to enjoy as they progressed through heavier rock n roll. Nearly 90% of those polled favored Country Western singers in their later years. Interesting little stat.